May 1, 2011

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Northern University softball team suffered a 7-6 setback in extra innings to Western Michigan Sunday afternoon at Fran Ebert Field.

The Broncos' (18-24, 12-4) Courtney Rousseau hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game and the series in the second-straight extra inning affair.

"Western Michigan did a great job again today," said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. "Their kids played hard and came up big when they needed to."

After falling behind 5-1 after WMU posted a four-run second inning and scored a run the fifth, NIU (23-23, 10-6) battled back with a four-run sixth to tie the game at 5-5.

With runners at second and third with one out, Stephanie Tofft (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln), who extended her school-record hitting streak to 36 games with a single in the fourth, reached on a fielder's choice to drive in pinch runner Erika Oswald (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South). Dani Parrish (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) then came up and deposited Kayla Houston's pitch over the right field fence for a three-run homer to tie the game.

Western Michigan retook the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning. Zoe Sinner (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) tied the game at 6-6 with a solo shot in the top of the seventh.

Northern Illinois held the Bronco offense scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings before WMU broke through with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

The Huskie pitching staff gave up seven runs on the day, three earned on 11 hits. Northern pounded out 12 hits with Parrish leading the way with a 3-for-4, three RBI and two runs scored performance.

The Huskies return to the diamond Wednesday when NIU travels to Chicago to face DePaul. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

-NIU-